Roadster Car Show - Elite Meet

The 2006 Grand National Roadster Show marks the 57th year for this remarkable, historic, and prestigious king of all indoor car shows. In addition, it marks the show's third year at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, and its first year under the ownership of John Buck Enterprises, which purchased the GNRS from Dan Cyr since the last time we were here.

In the three years since it came south from the Bay Area, the Grand National Roadster Show has been growing into the facilities at the Fairplex. The venue has the advantage of allowing the vehicles and vendors to spread into the main exhibition building and five more 100x300-ft buildings. New this year as well, thanks to the Fairplex's layout and Southern California's mid-winter summer-like climate, was a Saturday Cruise-In, which filled the areas around the building with cars that were equally as nice as those inside.

In another new and welcome twist, one of the exhibit halls was temporarily renamed the Suede Palace, and set aside specifically for low-dollar, traditionally styled rides. Primer was not a requirement but was warmly welcomed. Live swing and rockabilly bands set the musical tone at this end of the event.

Of course, the big draw was in the main hall, where the high-end cars vied for the big award-America's Most Beautiful Roadster. Many of these competitors were finished only a few days before arriving in Pomona.

We set up Rod & Custom mission control in a room above the main hall and kept our R&C Web site crackling with up-to-the-minute information and photos from the event, which you can see at www.rodandcustommagazine.com.

If you'd like to see your car in next year's coverage, contact www.hotrodshows.com for information on participating in the 2007 Grand National Roadster Show. We know we'll be there.